Two-part molded shoe tree



WERD-J' Feb. 20, 1962 B. MACK 3,021,542

TWO-PART MOLDED SHOE TREE Filed Oct. '7, 1959 INVENTOR. BZAN/IKD M/ICK United States Patent York Filed Oct. 7, 1959, Ser. No. 844,898 4 Claims. (Cl. 12--115.6)

The present invention is directed to shoe trees such as are commonly used for insertion into shoes in order to retain the shape thereof and more particularly to a novel structure giving improved results.

Most of the shoe trees heretofore on the market have been made of a combination of Wood and metal elements. Such devices are heavy and clumsy and consist of a considerable number of parts. Therefore, they are relatively expensive to produce. However, shoe trees made entirely of sheet metal and associated elements are usually somewhat lighter than the wood type but they still consist of a considerable number of parts and are relatively expensive. Unless made of rust-proof metal or subjected to rust-proofing operations, they tend to rust and even discolor the inside of the shoe.

The present invention is intended and adapted to overcome the disadvantages inherent in prior devices of this type, it being among the objects of the present invention to provide a structure of shoe tree which is light and yet strong and which is easy to insert into a shoe and to remove the same therefrom.

It is also among the objects of the present invention to provide a shoe tree which is simple in construction, which is inexpensive to produce and which lends itself to large scale commercial production with a minimum of operations.

It is further among the objects of the present invention to provide a shoe tree construction which has relatively few parts, which is made of a molded plastic, which may be either thermosetting or thermoplastic and for the production of which a mold of simple design is applicable.

In practicing the present invention, there are provided two molded elements, one being a toe portion and the other a heel portion. The rear of the toe portion and the front of the heel portion have upstanding sides with said front and rear overlapping. Means are provided at the overlapping areas for connecting the two portions so that they are pivoted relative to each other and in addition may slide longitudinally relative to each other. This is accomplished by having openings in both elements in which rivets are inserted, one of the rivets operating in a slot in the other element. A spring connecting the two rivets allows for the desired relative movements of the two portions.

'In the accompanying drawing constituting a part hereof, in which like reference characters indicate like parts:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a shoe tree made in accordance with the present invention, some parts being broken away and some parts being shown in section for clearness;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the toe portion of the shoe tree;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the heel portion;

3,@Zi,542 Pia tented Feb. 20, 1962 FIG. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 7 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 2.

There are provided a heel portion 1 and a toe portion 2. The upper surface 3 of heel portion 1 is a substantially horizontal sheet having depending sides 4 and 5. The rear 6 slopes at its lower end 7 where it assumes a horizontal position. Transverse partition 8 connects surface 3 with sides 4 and 5 and opening 9 on both sides 4 and 5 at the front thereof is adapted to receive a rivet or other fastening means.

Toe portion 2 has an upper face 10' of a slightly concave form, terminating at the rear 11 and having a downwardly sloping front 12 terminating at the horizontal portion 13 thereof. The rear of toe portion 2 has a recess 14 as shown in FIG. 1. Depending from face 10 are sides 15 and 16 terminating at 13. Transverse partitions 17 and 18 spaced apart and in parallel relation join top face 10 and sides 15 and 16.

As shown, a horizontal slot 19 is formed in the rear of toe portion 2 and an opening 20 is formed slightly in front of said slot, as more particularly shown in FIG. 3. Rivets 21 and 22 are inserted in openings 9 and 20, respectively, and a spring 23 is held between said rivets. The tension of the spring is such that it tends to hold portions 1 and 2 apart.

The manufacture of this shoe tree is quite simple. As will be seen, the molds for portions 1 and 2 are of simple character and all of the elements of each of the portions are formed simultaneously in a single operation. No additional finishing operations are necessary, thereby making the production thereof quite economical. The assembly of the two portions with the rivets and spring is a simple operation quickly accomplished by the use of suitable jigs. The entire structure is light in weight, yet of sufiicient strength to withstand abuse. Also in the use thereof, it is a simple matter to insert the toe portion into the shoe, pivot the heel portion upwardly and then press forwardly thereon, whereby rivet 21 will move into the forward portion of slot 19, permitting rear wall 6 of the heel portion to be inserted into the shoe. Upon release thereof, spring 23 applies tension and spreads the two portions longitudinally, thus firmly holding the shoe tree in the shoe in properly stretched position.

What is claimed is:

1. A shoe tree comprising a toe portion and a heel portion, the rear end of said toe portion and the front end of said heel portion being connected to permit relative pivotal and sliding movement thereof, said toe portion consisting of a thin walled upper face conforming with the shape of the toe of a shoe, the sides of said face extending downwardly and terminating at the sole of said shoe, :1 pair of vertical thin walled partitions integral with said face and extending transversely of and within said toe portion, the lower ends of said partitions terminating at said sole, the lower end of said toe portion being open.

2. A shoe tree according to claim 1 characterized in that said connection is on the side of said face to the rear of said partitions.

3. A shoe tree according to claim 1 characterized in that said heel portion consists of a horizontal U-shaped thin shell open at its front end, the rear end thereof be- 3, irig adapted to contact therear of said shoe saidrear end sloping forwardly at its lower part to a horizontal position, a thin walled upper surface integral with said shell, said surface terminating short of the rear end of said shell at a point forwardly of the front of said forwardly sloping part.

4. A shoe tree according to claim 3 characterized in that a thin walled vertical partition integral with said surface and the legs of said U extends transversely of said heel portion forwardly of said sloping part.

,. R ferences. Citediin the...iile ofmthisnatentr a.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Legg Jan. 11, 1910 Legge June 28, 1932 DeWitt Oct. 10, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Italy Oct. 16, 1953 

